Expected salary package after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in India in 2025–26 typically ranges from about ₹3–4 lakh per annum in small firms to ₹12–15 lakh for strong profiles through ICAI campus placements, with exceptional offers for rank holders crossing ₹20–25 lakh and the highest domestic packages touching around ₹26–29 lakh per annum. With experience of 7–10 years, many CAs move into the ₹20–30 lakh+ bracket, especially in metro cities, Big 4 firms, MNCs, and high-demand roles like investment banking, consulting, and CFO-track positions.vsijaipur+5
Introduction: Why CA salary expectations matter
Chartered Accountancy remains one of the highest-paying commerce careers in India, but actual salary packages vary widely based on profile, attempts, skills, and location. Many aspirants have unrealistic expectations, which leads to disappointment despite clearing one of the toughest professional exams. This blog gives a grounded, data-driven view of the expected salary package after CA, supported by ICAI campus statistics and industry trends.l
Overview of CA salary in India
Across multiple 2024–25 reports, the average starting salary of a newly qualified CA in India generally lies in the ₹6–9 lakh per annum range, with significant variation based on employer type and performance. Some sources note that freshers who clear exams in the first attempt and have strong articleship or ranks can see offers in the ₹12–15 lakh range and beyond.
- Minimum fresher packages in smaller firms often start at about ₹2.5–3 lakh per annum.
- Typical fresher packages in mid-sized and large firms fall between ₹6–8 lakh per annum.
- High-end fresher offers through campus or niche roles (Big 4, IB, consulting) can touch ₹15–25 lakh per annum for exceptional candidates.
ICAI campus placement data: Authentic benchmark
ICAI campus placements give a very reliable indicator of what strong, newly-qualified CAs can expect. Recent ICAI campus reports show that:
- In the 60th campus placement (2024), the average package was around ₹12.49 lakh per annum.
- The highest domestic package in that drive was about ₹26.70 lakh per annum, offered by a PSU (Power Finance Corporation).
- Across recent drives (59th and 60th), top salaries have gone up to about ₹29 lakh per annum for India-based roles.
For the latest notifications and detailed campus placement reports, readers should refer directly to the official ICAI website:
- Main portal: https://www.icai.orgicai
- New Scheme of Education & Training (for context on course structure): https://www.icai.org/post/new-scheme-of-education-and-trainingicai
Expected salary package after CA: Experience-wise
Multiple salary studies show that CA earnings grow strongly with experience, especially after 5–7 years of consistent work.
Experience-wise CA salary table (India)
| Experience level | Typical salary range (per annum) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresher (0–1 year) | ₹3–4 LPA in small firms to ₹6–9 LPA in mid/large firms; strong campus profiles ₹10–15 LPA | Based on ICAI campus averages and private surveys. |
| 1–3 years | ₹8–12 LPA | Promotions to Senior Associate/Assistant Manager levels in many firms.library+1 |
| 4–6 years | ₹12–20 LPA | Many move into Manager roles or niche specialisations.library+1 |
| 7–10 years | ₹20–30 LPA or more | Senior Manager/AVP roles in corporates, consulting, BFSI.library+1 |
| 10+ years | ₹30–50 LPA+, sometimes above ₹70 LPA in top positions | Practising partners and CFO/Head of Finance roles can be significantly higher. |
These are indicative ranges; actual salaries depend on performance, company type, and market conditions.
Expected salary after CA for freshers (detailed)
For most readers, the core question is: “What will be my first package after qualifying CA?”
- Small and local CA firms: Often offer ₹2.5–4 lakh per annum for beginners, especially if there are multiple attempts.
- Mid-sized and regional firms: Commonly pay in the ₹4–7 lakh per annum range to fresh CAs.
- Big 4 and large consulting/audit firms: Entry packages usually fall between ₹6–12 lakh per annum depending on city, profile, and performance.
- ICAI campus – strong profiles: Average packages around ₹12–13 lakh per annum with top offers above ₹25 lakh per annum have been reported in recent drives.
Rank holders and first-attempt qualifiers with good communication and internship exposure are regularly reported to receive offers of ₹15–25 lakh per annum from top firms.
Role-wise expected salary after CA
Different roles pay differently even for the same qualification.
Role-wise CA salary snapshot
| Job role / profile | Typical fresher range | Mid-career potential | Insights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statutory audit (Big 4) | ₹6–10 LPA | ₹15–25+ LPA | Strong learning, long hours, metro-based roles. |
| Internal audit / Risk | ₹6–9 LPA | ₹15–20+ LPA | Demand in BFSI, manufacturing, IT. |
| Taxation (Direct/Indirect) | ₹5–9 LPA | ₹15–25+ LPA | High value for GST and international tax skills. |
| Corporate finance / FP&A | ₹7–12 LPA | ₹20–30+ LPA | Attractive roles in MNCs, start-ups, and corporates. |
| Investment banking / Deals | ₹12–25 LPA | ₹30–50+ LPA | Limited positions, very competitive, long working hours. |
| Consultancy / Management advisory | ₹8–15 LPA | ₹25–40+ LPA | Strategy, valuations, transaction support. |
| Practice (own CA firm) | Initially low, often <₹5 LPA | Can exceed ₹50 LPA+ | Depends heavily on client base and niche. |
These numbers combine insights from multiple salary guides and employer surveys for 2024–25.
City-wise variation in expected CA salary
Location has a visible impact on the expected salary package after CA because of cost of living, industry presence, and competition.
- Metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi–NCR, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad generally offer higher starting salaries, especially in Big 4, investment banking, and MNC roles.
- Tier-2 cities such as Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Kochi may offer slightly lower packages but better work–life balance and lower living costs.
Simplified city-wise fresher salary infographic idea
You can create a simple infographic showing four buckets:
- Metro Big 4/MNC: ₹7–12 LPA (high competition, high growth)
- Metro mid-sized firms: ₹5–8 LPA (good learning, moderate growth)
- Tier-2 large firms: ₹4–7 LPA (balanced lifestyle)
- Small local firms: ₹2.5–4 LPA (good for initial exposure, lower pay)
Factors that decide your salary after CA
1. Number of attempts and ranks
Clearing CA in the first attempt and securing an All India Rank significantly improves salary prospects, especially in campus placements. Rank holders and first-attempt qualifiers often command higher packages and faster promotions due to perceived competence and consistency.
2. Articleship exposure and firm brand
Practical training in reputed firms, hands-on client exposure, and work in specialised areas like international taxation, transfer pricing, or deals improve your salary negotiating power. Employers value real-world experience and ownership of responsibilities more than just theoretical marks.
3. Skills beyond accounting
- Strong Excel, financial modelling, and data skills.
- Communication, presentation, and leadership abilities.
- Knowledge of ERP systems like SAP, Oracle and analytics tools.
These skills can move candidates into higher-paying corporate finance, FP&A, analytics, and consulting roles.
4. Industry and company size
CAs working in BFSI, consulting, IT/ITeS, and MNCs usually see faster salary growth than those in very small local practices. Large and listed companies also tend to offer better variable pay and long-term incentives such as ESOPs.
Expected CA salary: Practising vs job
A crucial decision after qualification is whether to join a job or start practice.
- Job route: Provides stable income from day one, with structured increments and defined roles. Fresher salaries in good companies are already attractive, and within 7–10 years many professionals reach ₹20–30 lakh+ packages.
- Practice route: Income may be low in the initial years but can grow exponentially once you build a strong client base and specialisation (e.g., GST, assessments, valuations). Experienced partners in successful CA firms can earn far higher than traditional salaried roles.
The better option depends on risk appetite, networking strength, and long-term vision.
How to negotiate and maximise your package after CA
- Research current benchmarks for your role and city using salary guides and placement reports.
- Highlight articleship achievements, leadership roles, and any rank or first-attempt qualification clearly on your CV.
- Be flexible on location and profile for the first job if it offers strong learning, even if the starting pay is slightly lower.
- Continuously upgrade skills through courses, workshops, and ICAI-certified programmes listed on the official site and regional branches.
For up-to-date policy changes and course structure impacting your career journey, regularly check:
- ICAI main portal: https://www.icai.orgicai
- ICAI New Scheme page: https://www.icai.org/post/new-scheme-of-education-and-trainingicai
- ICAI students/campus sections and notifications linked from the homepage.cmibplacements.icai
A realistic expected salary package after CA in India for 2025–26 is around ₹6–9 lakh per annum for most freshers, with ICAI campus averages near ₹12–13 lakh and top offers above ₹25 lakh for outstanding candidates. Over a decade, disciplined CAs who build strong skills, specialisations, and networks can grow into ₹30–50 lakh+ roles in corporate leadership or successful practice.
You can now adapt this structure in your own words, expand sections that match your audience (e.g., focus on CA Inter students or specific cities), and insert custom-designed tables and infographics to keep the blog fully original and plagiarism free while staying aligned with current data.
